Starter for internal-combustion engines.



- G. B. SINCLAIR,

STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1910.

' ,O2 3 279, Patented Apr. 16, 1912 FW mi .A lllllllmlllllll fll I v I n 'Jl' HIIIIHHIIHU! 9 10 25 .nmmumm" 10 W I v WEnes-Ses,- lfl Ge04-geB.Sinai r fments in Starters for Engines, of which the following is a spec1-- Gnonen 1B. SINCLAIR, or innnronn, rrassncnusnrrs.

. STARTER FOR INTERNAIrCOMBUSTION ENGINES.

meagre.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'To all it may concern:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have in vented certain new and useful Improve- Internal-Combustion fication.

In cranking an internal combustion engine, there is great danger of the charge becoming ignited and exploding as the plunger is approaching the feurs arm or wrist either 'of this'specification,

head of thefcylinder. When this occurs, consequently the starter-crank are given a violent backward revolution, and the chaufbroken or at least badly injured by the powerful blow given thereto by the crank.

The object of this invention is the absolute prevention of such injuries, by so contriving the mechanism that'such backward kicks of the engine cannot imparta corresponding kick to the starter crank. To this endfI provide the starterwith an unshipping-device which instantly acts upon the clutchbetween the crank and engine shaft the moment the latter begins ward, and thereby causes the ,crank to swing freely during the back kick of the engine.

Referring to the drawings forming part Figured is a-{plan view of astarter crank and .its-clutch'connection with the engine shaft, provided with my unshipping device. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same from the front. Fig. 3 is a detail view-of the pawl and its pivotal connection. 'iFig. 4 is a pla -.1 view on a much smaller scale of a slight modification of the starter. "Fig. 5 isa sectional view of an- 'othermodification of the invention. 1

The reference numeral 1 designates the fengine shaft of the internal combustion enine to which the improvement is to be attached; 2, the clutch member fixed upon said movable on said shaft; and 4, the starter crank. Said clutch member 3 and crank are rigidly connected by means of the sleeve 5, whereby, when the crank is first pressed inward to engagement of the clutch members, forcibly turned is rotated, the charge compressed and the engine started. This is the usual construe-- tion, unless, as is often done, the crank is located upon a separate spindle,as 6, conand then I nected with the clutch sleeve residing at;

its other arm engaging the engine and to turn backvise other contrivances for the purpose,

cause the v which I. desire Letters toward the right, the shaft 5 by means of sprockets and sprocket chain 7, as illustrated in Fig. i.

My attachment comprises a ratchet wheel 9 fixed upon the sleeve 5, a pawl 10 engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a pivotally supported bell-crank lever 11 carrying said pawl at the end of one arm, and having a shoulder 12 on said sleeve. By this means, whenever said sleeve and ratchet wheel turn backward, the latter engages and forces said pawl rearward, the bell-crank arm 14 presses against said shoulder, and the sleeve is disengaged from the clutch member 2.

As is evident, it requires but the merest fraction of a turn on the part-of the engine and wheel 9 to force the two clutch-members apart'and so unship the crank and render the latter incapable of harm.

A spring 15 is preferably provided to insure the engagement of the pawl and ratchetwheel; and a tension spring 16 and stop 1.7

I Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed December 9, 1910. Serial No. 596,531.

lever swings on its pivot 13, its

to retain the bell-crank lever and pawl in their normal positions. Guides 19 are also given to the pawl to keep it from lateral displacement, and a balland-socket pivotal attachment given to the pawl and arm 20 of the bell-crank. lever. This comprises a ball 2], formed at the end of the pawl, and a twopart socket 22 at the end of the arm 20. In F ig.. 3 the top-plate 23 of this two-part socket is represented as removed in order better to illustrate the construction.

I do not restrict myself to the particular arrangement of mechanism illustrated, inasmuch as any good mechanic after having been shown the possibility of automatically unshipping the clutch members, can soon Ideor instance, aslshown in Fig. 5, the ratchet wheel may he formed with aninclined flange 25 having a'wedge member 26 in contact wedge member. When the wheel turns backward, the pawl is caused to force wedge radially outward and to thereby unship the clutch.

What I claim as my invention and for Patent is as follows, to wit v 1. The combination with an internal combustion engine and its shaft, of a" clutch member slidably mounted on said shaft, a clutch member normally engaging said slidtherewith, and the pawl 10 pivoted to said 1 able member and fixed on said shaft, said slidable clutch member having a shoulder, a

thanthe other, said longer arm being adapted to engage the slidable clutch member to 'force it out of clutch with the fixed member but to permit the latters rotation, a ratchet Wheel rotatable With said shaft, and a pawl carried by the shorter arm of said bell'crank lever and adapted to engage said ratchet Wheel.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this .8th day of December, 1910.

GEORGE B; SINCLAIR. Witnesses A. B. UPHAM, ETHELBERT V. GRABILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. G. 

